Arsenal: Has Granit Xhaka actually changed?

In a recent piece in the Daily Telegraph, Sam Dean argues that Granit Xhaka’s improvement signals the changes that Unai Emery has made at Arsenal. But has Xhaka actually improved?

Unai Emery was always going to make changes to Arsenal. The players, the structure of the club, the coaching strategies, the training methods, the tactics. As soon as Arsene Wenger signed his resignation letter, all these were destined to change.

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And that is not a problem. In fact, for many fans, change is precisely what they wanted. The crucial distinction, though, is not change, but improvement. Change for change’s sake is pointless. But change to improve is invaluable. And at this early stage, it is fair to say that Emery has improved Arsenal.

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According to Sam Dean of the Daily Telegraph, ‘it [the 1-1 draw with Liverpool] was a performance of spirit and intensity, both individually from Xhaka and collectively from the team, and it was a clear demonstration of how Emery has injected a new purpose into this club.’ Dean argues that Granit Xhaka’s improvement under Emery, distinguished by an excellently destructive and diligent display against the Liverpool, is emblematic of the overall improvement of the team.

And in that particular match, Xhaka was certainly far improved from his usual standard. As Dean rightly highlight, Xhaka made more passes, more ball recoveries and more tackles than any other pitch, a clear illustration of his all-action performance. But has Xhaka actually improved from the player that he was under Arsene Wenger? Or is it more of a case of the positions he is being put in being more influential, with those around him providing sturdier support?

Xhaka is playing fewer passes per game than last season. His pass accuracy has also decreased. He is making fewer tackles per game, fewer interceptions per game and is being dribbled past more frequently than his average over the past two seasons. According to these statistics, Xhaka might not actually be playing any better than he was, from a purely individual perspective.

But Dean is right to highlight the influence, if not actually the play, of Xhaka. Because, as evidenced on Saturday, Xhaka is undoubtedly having a greater, more positive impact on this team than he ever did under Wenger. But that is more because of the elevation of the players around him, especially Lucas Torreira, not necessarily because Xhaka is doing anything different.

He is playing better, but that isn’t because he is a different player. He is simply now being put in the right positions to succeed. Or rather, he is not being put in positions that utterly expose him. That does not mean that Xhaka is the solution to Arsenal’s midfield vulnerabilities. Consistency is now required.

But the way in which Emery has used Xhaka this season, sheltering him and freeing him, has allowed the Swiss international to flourish. And Arsenal have too.